Latest News
Quaker composer new Leaveners’ patron
Sally Beamish has joined Judi Dench, Ben Kingsley, Sheila Hancock and John Whitney as a patron of the Leaveners, the Quaker arts organisation. Sally is a composer and viola player. Among her works is Equal Voices, a joint commission with poet Andrew Motion, created to mark the centenary of the...
Peace and justice campaigner charged
Keighley Friend Sylvia Boyes was imprisoned on 18 March for refusing to pay fines. The fines related to a protest against the DSEI (Defence and Security Equipment) arms fair in 2013 when Sylvia was charged with obstructing the highway. She will spend fourteen days in New Hall Prison in Wakefield.
Lecture series remembers Friend
A Yorkshire field society has named a new lecture series after a member of the Religious Society of Friends who died in 2013 at the age of ninety-three. Upper Wharfedale Field Society will commemorate Friend Richard Harland with biennial lectures on vernacular architecture. The first lecture was delivered on 22 March by...
Friends plan for Eurosatory 2016
Quakers in France and Belgium have appealed to British Friends to join their vigil at Europe’s biggest arms fair next summer. Eurosatory will take place in Paris from 13 to 17 June 2016. More than a thousand exhibitors are expected to take part.
Friends in Scotland
Friends gathered for General Meeting for Scotland in St Andrews on 7 March in a rather sombre mood following the recent deaths of a number of well-known and well-loved Friends who had given much service to our Religious Society. Indeed, the funeral of Christine Davis, clerk of London Yearly Meeting in...
Friends join faith leaders in opposing nuclear weapons
Quakers in Britain have signed up to a statement issued by twenty-six faith leaders across the UK calling for new initiatives to eliminate nuclear weapons. Senior representatives from eight faiths, including Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, say that nuclear weapons ‘violate the principle of dignity for every human being...
NZ Quakers write to their prime minister
Members of the Yearly Meeting of Aotearoa/New Zealand have asked their prime minister to ensure that the country responds effectively to its environmental responsibilities, in particular the control of greenhouse gas emissions.
Friends invited to become citizen-journalists
Citizen journalism has been selected as a key focus for the 2015 spring gathering of the Quakers and Business Group.
Jean Vanier wins Templeton Prize
Many Friends have welcomed the news that Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche, has won the 2015 Templeton Prize.
Campsfield expansion on hold
The application was submitted by the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice. It was withdrawn on 12 March on the instruction of the home secretary. ‘This is a great achievement for Stop Campsfield Expansion, a coalition of local organisations which has devoted an enormous amount of time and energy into...